Delasi, Jordan and Rehanna have been unveiled as the finalists of Bring The Drama, the six-part series hosted by Bill Bailey for BBC Two and iPlayer. Guided by casting director Kelly Valentine Hendry and acting coach Gemma Crooks, the three impressed throughout the competition and were given the chance to take part in a major industry showcase with an audience of top acting agents and casting directors, where they showed their individual filmed monologues. They have all since secured roles in UK TV shows with Delasi set to appear in an episode of EastEnders, Jordan has been offered a role on BBC’s Waterloo Road, and Rehanna has landed a role for a digital streamer. Delasi and Rehanna have also secured representation with UK agents.
Curated with the intention to help aspiring actors who have always dreamt of becoming professional actors but haven’t had the opportunity for a multitude of reasons, the series has demonstrated the hard work that is needed to make it in the industry.
Throughout the competition, all eight aspiring actors were welcomed onto some of the real-life sets from celebrated UK dramas such as Peaky Blinders, EastEnders and Silent Witness and tasked with working together to recreate iconic scenes with the real scripts, real cameras and the real time pressures that professional actors face. As they gained experience in different forms of screen acting they were given advice and guidance from a host of established actors including Natalie Cassidy (EastEnders); Genesis Lynea (Silent Witness, Champion); Charles Venn (Casualty, Dream Team); Ed Speelers (Downton Abbey, You) and Rochenda Sandall (Line of Duty, The Rig), as well as working with industry experts from the Peaky Blinders fight co-ordinator to the intimacy co-ordinator from Sex Education.
As well as the direct guidance all eight received in the series from industry professionals and specialist coaches, they also left the process with a professionally shot showreel and follow up sessions with industry experts.
Delasi said: "I'm incredibly grateful to have been selected and make the showcase. I really feel as though I've changed so much as an actor during Bring the Drama and it is the first big step of many in my career. I really hope the show acts as an inspiration, not just to aspiring actors, but also to dreamers in all areas of life, from every demographic.”
Jordan Skelly said: “Getting through to the showcase was a complete shock and entirely overwhelming. I knew that the work wasn’t over and that I would have to use everything I’d learnt to stand out. The experience of the show has given me the confidence to take the next steps in securing an agent and working on set.”
Rehanna Bernard said: “I am thrilled to have gotten to the final! This process has taught me that my limitations won’t stop me from succeeding as an actor and I feel empowered to face my future in this industry. This really feels like a new chapter for me and I’m excited to see what happens next!”
All eight actors secured their place in Bring The Drama through an open casting call process and were selected from almost 2000 amateur actors from across the UK. Chosen for their raw talent, none have been to drama school or found a way to break into acting professionally, having been held back by a variety of factors and access issues.
